For context, I'll be visiting Japan from March 23 – April 12. I'm into cultural exploration through history, cooking, literature and writing, good music (I love punk, rock, jazz, and blues), the ocean, and self-inflicted pain and gain. I'm also 27 male if that helps.
As a traveler, I don't really make detailed every-day plans for what to see and where to eat, if something earns my curiosity, I check them out (I will be booking tickets to some places that are more stringent and popular like the National Museum of Nature and Science and Soseki National Museum).
I usually pick out neighborhoods and spend time there, learning about the communities and picking up on the vibes. Of course, with a sprawling metropolis such as Tokyo, and an overall culturally and geographically rich country as Japan, this is a bit of a herculean task, lmao.
I'm having trouble if this makes sense or if I should rearrange some places based on proximity and/or interest, add a day or two, or if some other places are getting too much time (which I can always adapt as I'm traveling). Thanks for any input.
March 23: Arrive at 3pm, get situated.
March 24-25: Asakusa, Kappabashi (for kitchen town), and Ueno plus National Museum of Nature and Science. Edo-Tokyo Museum and Tokyo Mizumashi also have my interest.
March 26-27: Shibuya and Harajuku (for good music and socializing)
March 28: Shinjuku (and the Soseki National Museum)
March 29: Bunko, Jimbocho, Imperial Palace (for food, literature, and nature)
March 30: Tsukiji and Ginza (Bar Lupin and fish market)
March 31 – April 2: Kyoto (or Kamakura for the ocean and sea salt ice cream I've heard about)
April 3-4: Roppongi (nightlife)
April 5: Odaiba, Nakameguro, Shimokitazawa (can this all go into one day?)
April 6: Hakone
April 7-8: Climb Mt. Fuji (the self-inflicted pain and gain)
April 9-12: Free days to (re-)visit anywhere and finally depart Japan at 1pm.
There's just so flipping much like Koenji and I accept I can't do everything. I'd love to go visit the Osaka Dazai Literary Salon in Mitaka. Everyone I know says Kyoto but I’d also love to go to Kamakura or another place, look out at the ocean, and think “life is good right now right here.” Mount Fuji is for the personal experience and I’d do that towards the end because my legs will be tired.
I’d appreciate any advice and feedback. Thank you!
by DerekWroteThis